Check-controlled apparatus for vending-machines.



W. H. WALKER.

CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS FOR .VENDING MACHINES.

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W. H. WALKER. CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-6.1915.

Patented May 23, 1916.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed November 6, 1915. Serial No. 60,113.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTER H. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Check-Control Apparatus for Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in check control apparatus for vending machines, change-making machines, etc.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide check controlled apparatus of the class described which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, which will operate effectively when a coin of the proper denomination has been deposited therein and wherein the component parts will be so arranged and correlated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to the minimum.

With the above recited objects in view and others of a similar nature, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings :F igure 1 is a view in front elevation of a vending machine equipped with check controlled apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view in the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a similar view on the line 14 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a like view on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional. view through the coin controlled mechanism showing the parts on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawingsin detail, 1 designates a casing constructed of suitable material and having the front wall thereof formed with a coin slot 2, an opening 3 below the coin slot 2 and an opening a below the opening 3 Secured to the front wall of the casing below the opening 4 and pro ecting outwardly from such Wallis a shelf 5 adapted to support a cup 6 mother vessel.

Secured to the inner surface of one side wallof the casing 1 is a supporting plate 7 and secured to the supporting plate 7 and projecting outwardly therefrom 1s a horizontal guide plate 8 having an outer edge formed with an upturned flange 9 cooperating with the confronting portion of the plate 7 to form a guideway. Mounted upon the guide plate 8 within the way formed by the flange 9 and the adjacent portion of the supporting plate 7 is a bar 10 capable of longitudinal sliding movement upon the plate 8 and having the forward end portion formed with an upwardly projecting lip 11 and the rear end bifurcated as at 12. Mounted upon the forward end portion of the bar 10 and capable of sliding movement thereon is the inner end portion of a plunger 13, such plunger having the outer end thereof projecting through the opening '3. Surrounding the plunger 13 and spaced apart from the forward end of the supporting plate 7 is a collar 14; and encircling the plunger between the collar 14 and the adjacent end of the plate 7 is a coiled expansion spring 15 acting to hold the forward end of the plunger 13 normally projected through the open ing 3. Formed on the lower edge of the plunger 13 at the inner end thereof is a shoulder 16 designed to abut the lip 11 to limit the outward movement of the plunger under the action of the spring. The inner end of the plunger is also formed with a coin slot 17 that normally registers with a similar slot 18 formed in the bar 10 and leading from the coin slot 2 in the front wall of the casing 1 to the slot 17 in the plunger is a coin chute 19 whereby coins may be conveyed from the slot 2 into the normally registering slots 17 and 18 to connect the plunger 13 to the bar 10. When the alining coin slots 17 and 18 are unoccupied by a coin, the plunger 13 may be pressed inwardly against the action of the spring 15 without influencing the bar 10 and in this inward movement of the plunger the inner end thereof slides over the outer end portion of the bar. lVhen, however, the coin is deposited in the slot 2 such coin slides down the chute 19 into the registering slots in the plunger and bar, thereby forming a connection between the plunger and the bar so that in th inward movement of the plunger the bar will be likewise actuated upon the guide plate 8. The upper surface of the guide plate 8 is preferably formed with a channel 20 below the slot 18 in the bar and disposed contiguous to the rear end of the channel 20 is a discharge slot 21. As the plunger and bar move rearwardly incident to the coin connecting-the same, the lower edge of the coin slides along the channel 20 and the slots 17 and 18 move into registration with the discharge slot 21 in the guide plate 8, there- I by releasing the coin and permitting the latthat theabove cycle of operation may be repeated when another coin of the proper denomination is deposited in the slot 2.

' In the present instance, I have shown my improved check controlled apparatus as used inconnection with a coffee dispensing machine, such machine comprising an outer recepta'cle22fandan inner receptacle 23 arranged within the upper portion of the outerreceptacle. The receptacle 23 is adapted to contain the coffee to be dispensed and v has the lower end thereof equipped with an outlet 24 connected to a suitable form of cut ofi'fvalve 25 which in turn communicates with measuring chamber 26 having the lower .end thereof provided with a cut off valve 27 and from the cut off valve 27 leads a discharge spout 28 extending through the opening 1 in the front wall of the'casing 1 and adapted to discharge the coffee to the vessel 6 onthe shelf 5.

29 indicates a lever fulcrumed between its ends upon the supporting plate 7 and hav ing the ,upper portion thereof connected withthe bifurcated end 12 of the bar 10.

The upper end of the lever 9 is connected withthe stem of the valve 25 while the lower end of such lever is connected with the stem of the valve 27. The valve 25 is normally opened so that the coffee may flow from the receptacle 23 into the measuring chamber 26,

' while the valve 27 is normally closedto out off communication between the measuring chamber and the discharge spout. The

lower portion of the receptacle 22 contains a quantity of hot water .or other heating E medium so as to heat the contents of the measuring chamber 26. These receptacles v23 and 22 are provided with suitable drain cocks and catch glasses as illustrated in Fig.

-2 of the drawings, while the measuring chamber 26 is provided with a vent pipe 30 I to facilitate the discharge of the coifee therefrom when the lower valve 27 is opened and the upper valve closed. In practice, when the coin has been deposited in the slots 17 and 18, and the bar 10 moved inwardly under the action of the plunger 13, such bar swings the lever 29 about its fulcrum thereby closing the valve 25 and opening the valve 27 to cut 011' communication between the receptacle 23 and the measuring chamber and dispense the coffee in the measuring chamber. When the coin is discharged through the slot 21 and the plunger released the spring 15 coacts and restores the valves 25 and 27 to normal positions.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention, by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described, and delineated, modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the claim and without. departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim In check controlled apparatus for vending machines, a bar capable of sliding movement and having a lip formed on the upper surface thereof at one end, and a vertical slot formed therein and spaced apart from said lip, a plunger having one end portion thereof slidably mounted upon the lip and said bar and formed with a shoulder normally engaging said lip and with a vertical coin slot normally registering with the slot in said bar whereby the coin deposited in said slots may form a connection between slot in said bar and at its opposite end with a vertical slot formed in said guide plate, the last-mentioned slot being adapted to register with the first-mentioned slots in the sliding movement of'the plunger and the bar whereby the coin will be released from said first-mentioned slots.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER H. WALKER.

Witnesses:

R. P. LooMIs, F. W. MARTIN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for he cent: each, by addressing the "commissioner of Iltenti, Washington, D. 0." 

